April 2008 

OFFICE NEWS       

APTC is pleased to welcome a new intern, Chelsea Litalien, to the team! Chelsea is a student at Macquarie University and will be assisting with various departments of the company. Welcome Chelsea! In April we had several staff members attend famils on the Gold Coast and Kangaroo Island, along with workshops on NSW. Our managing Director has also just returned from ITB in Germany. 

WHAT’S NEW? 

Kangaroo Island SeaLink – New Luxury Tour
Kangaroo Island SeaLink has launched their new, Kangaroo Island Platinum (2 day/1 night) and Kangaroo Island Platinum Plus (3 day/2 nights). The tour fills a gap in the Kangaroo Island touring market, offering more personalised touring than a traditional coach tour at a lower price than 4wd touring. The tours offer personalised touring for a maximum of 10 guests in a Toyota Coaster, especially equipped with individual reclining seats with armrests, lambs wool seat covers and a window seat for each guest. The coach has been fitted with a new multi language commentary delivery system, which is linked to a GPS and can provide commentary automatically for specific locations. This will deliver commentary in German, French and Italian once it is operational in July. Accommodation and meals are a very high level including the KI Wilderness Retreat and the KI Seafront Hotel (PlatinumPlus tour). The Platinum Tour will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Platinum Plus will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Southern Ocean Lodge – Grand Opening
The countdown is officially on for the much-anticipated opening of luxe wilderness retreat Southern Ocean Lodge, on the limestone cliff tops of ruggedly beautiful Kangaroo Island. The Lodge, designed to compliment this spectacular wilderness destination, is looking forward to welcoming their first guests on 29 March 2008.  

Cullen Wines Homestead
Cullen Wines Homestead is a unique and historic property adjacent to the highly renowned, biodynamic Cullen Winery. The Homestead is nestled in the heartland of the Margaret River wine growing region. This unique accommodation, located just a short walk from the Cullen vineyard, winery and restaurant, satisfies both the heart and mind, providing an insight into what it was like to live in Margaret River during the pioneering days. 

Goombaragin Eco Ventures
Goombaragin Eco Ventures is an Indigenous owned and family operated cultural and eco tourism business. It operates on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. Goombaragin Eco Ventures offer cultural guided tours and eco style accommodation packages that caters for a maximum of ten people at any one given time -guaranteeing visitors a personal insight into Aboriginal culture, heritage, lifestyle and environment of the area. 

Tagalong Tours Broome
Tagalong Tours Broome offers you an experience of a life time. Venture into the beautiful and diverse remote areas of Australia, enjoy the magnificent scenery and discover the hidden treasures this broad country has to offer, all in the comfort and convenience of your own vehicle. Tours include Broome and the Kimberley and Canning Stock Route. 

Emerald Hotel purchased by Rendezvous Hotels
Rendezvous Hotels has purchased the Emerald Hotel in Perth’s CBD. With 101 rooms the 4 star boutique property will be renamed the Marque Hotel Perth as of 01 April 2008. This is the second Rendezvous property in Perth, joining Rendezvous Observation City Hotel. 

Mullaloo Beach Suites
Mullaloo Beach Suites is a 5 star boutique hotel located only 30 minutes from the CBD. It is located opposite the Sunset Coast beach and offers 12 boutique suites, with a mix of 2 and 3 bedrooms, as well as 2 large rooftop penthouses. Mullaloo is a short drive to Hillary’s Boat Harbour which is a departure point for Rottnest Island ferries.

Crowne Plaza Pelican Waters Golf Resort & Spa
InterContinental Hotels Group is pleased to announce that they are expanding their Australian reach. From 6th March 2008 the Ramada Pelican Waters on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast will be rebranded as Crowne Plaza Pelican Waters Golf Resort & Spa. The hotel boasts excellent facilities for both Business & Leisure travelers, with stylish guest rooms & apartments. A variety of function rooms are available and there are plenty of opportunities to relax.

Launch of StayWell Hospitality Group
The owner of the Leisure Inn and Park Regis brands has announced today the adoption of a new corporate name – StayWell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd. This replaces the entity previously known as Kusido Hospitality and Property Group. 
 

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH 

Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant & Haunted House

Prepare to be delighted, enchanted and taken by surprise when you enter the death defying Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant. Dracula’s set out to entertain its guests and it is something they achieve from the moment you step over their threshold. Seats are taken in style as you enter the theatre by a ride on the ghost train. The ride prepares you for what is to come; a night of sensational thrills, horror and fabulous fun. 

As guests take their seats they are entertained by their hosts the Draculettes who provide an assortment of interesting cocktails and drinks and take down your preference for dinner. Dinner is a 3 course meal of which you can pick the main from an assortment of 5 different dishes. The dessert, a beautiful chocolate coffin is delightfully delicious and true to the devilish, delicious theme that runs through out the night. 

Guests are then entertained by the interactive show that is running at the time. Whether it be a burlesque, satire comedy or a high kicking, sensational singing show you are sure to be entertained. The Outrageous, funny cabaret show is one not to be missed as guests always have something to look at and be entertained by. 

Dracula’s Cabaret show can now be included in a package with Dracula’s Haunted House, an amazing walk through experience, featuring five floors of mind blurring optical illusions, Horror Displays and Special FX. only available on the Gold Coast. 

The Haunted House offers an amazing interactive journey through creepy comedy satire with attractions featuring deadly Australian creatures and following a tongue-in-cheek local theme. Challenging all to face their phobias, guests of the Haunted House are greeted by the Mayor of the Gold Coast Underworld, before encountering Zombie Meter Maids; the shark savaged Surf Lifesaver, a massive Funnel Web Spider, through to experiencing the terror of a White Pointer Shark attack.

Other levels feature The Carnival of Freaks Museum, where guests can wander at their own pace and experience a weird and, at times, hysterical collection of horror memorabilia, oddities and optical illusions. Also on show, the Vampire Lair, Mirror Maze and Phobia Level.

Dracula’s Cabaret show is located in both Melbourne and the Gold Coast however, Haunted House is only available on the Gold Coast. Please contact us for rates or more information.
 

SPECIALS

Four Seasons Value Adds
Four Seasons have announced some exciting value adds, applicable over their extended low season period.  These include complimentary early check-in and complimentary upgrades, based on minimum three nights. The value adds are valid for arrivals between April 14th - October 5th 2008 and December 1st - December 26th 2008. Terms and conditions apply; please request further details from our office.

Koala Golf Tours
Koala Golf Tours, in Hunter Valley, is offering a special package, which includes:

• 2 Nights accommodation at Cypress Lakes Resort
• Full breakfast daily
• 3 Rounds of golf with motorised carts, playing:

- Pacific Dunes
- Cypress Lakes
- The Vintage
(Prices are based on 4 people sharing a 2 bedroom villa playing Mon-Thurs)  

Stay in Luxury at Cable Beach Club Resort
Experience a Garden View Studio and receive fabulous savings when you stay 4 nights in April or May. the following will be included:

-         Complimentary full buffet breakfast daily 
-         Complimentary return Broome airport transfers

 CHANGES & REFURBISHMENTS 

Down Under Tours
Down Under Tours is proud to announce an eco certification on three new products, for a grand total of six eco certified products. Way to go, Down Under Tours! 

Magistic Dinner Cruise
Please be advised that the Magistic Dinner Cruise now only runs on Friday and Saturday evenings, effective immediately. 

InterContinental Sydney
InterContinental Sydney has rechristened the former ‘Mint Bar and Restaurant’, which will now be called simply ‘Mint Bar.’ Sydney Morning Herald described Mint Bar as “A grown up space in the money making part of town”, an exciting new bar with stylish furnishing, great cocktails and lavish dishes to share with friends. 

Voyages Longitude 131
Voyages Longitude 131 has made some changes to their inclusions, which will take effect on the 1st April 2008. The changes include private dining on the dune top, at Table 131 or poolside, as well as the option to dine in the guest room or in the library. Both options require prior notice, so please contact us for more information. 

Novotel Melbourne St Kilda
Please be advised that the Novotel Melbourne St Kilda will undergo a $7.5 million refurbishment, starting the 1^st April, with a completion date in mid September 2008. The hotel does not anticipate a great impact on guests, as they are taking precautions to isolate noise. 

Hotel Ibis Melbourne
Hotel Ibis Melbourne will undergo a $4,000,000 refurbishment of their guest rooms in 2008. The refurbishment encompasses all furniture and fittings including new beds with doona’s, bathrooms, and flat screen LCD TV’s.  The schedule will begin in the first week of April with work commencing on the 11th floor of the hotel. This will then continue through to the lower floors with a completion date in mid August 2008.In line with current trends on completion of the program the Hotel Ibis Melbourne will be a fully non-smoking hotel. NovotelThere has been a slight change to the name of most Novotel properties. Please contact us for a full list of the properties affected. 

Mirvac Refurbishments
The following Mirvac properties will be undergoing refurbishments:

-         Citigate Central Sydney
-         The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park Melbourne
-         The Sebel & Citigate King George Square Brisbane 

Rydges Southbank Brisbane
Rydges Southbank Brisbane has now finished its refurbishment. 

Australian Eco Adventures
Australian Eco Adventures has announced that unfortunately they will be suspending the ferry return to Circular Quay as of April 1st, 2008. Clients who have been on a tour to the Blue Mountains will be dropped back at their hotels, or as close as traffic allows, at the end of each day. This will apply to all tours that currently include the ferry in the itinerary. 

Spirit of the Night Sky
Please be advised that Spirit of the Night Sky will no longer be operating as a tourism product and will cease operation on 31st March 2008. 

Internship - Trainee Sydney Australia | Destination Management Company